Evaluate Clear[n]; then
1.0(5^n) will produce an output that looks a bit like (1.5)^n.
1.0(5.2^n) will produce an output might be mistaken for 1.5(.2^n).
2(5.2^n) will produce an output that be mistake for 25(.2^n).
Well that's what I think. I don't like to depend on the little space to
convey the meaning of expressions except for multiplication of
variables. I don't mind using (x y) to indicate the product of (x) and
(y) because I won't use the variables (x), (y), and (xy) in the same
expression. Anyone who does is looking for trouble.
Also I prefer to have the difference of two terms displayed as a
difference. For example I prefer to have (b-a) displayed as (b-a)
not (-a+b). TraditionalForm does this, but you need special rules to
make StandardForm do this.
In the line below I give formatting rules that I find much better. Of
course the saying about beauty in the eye of the beholder applies here.
Several months ago I posted similar rules, but I find these much
better.
Cheers,
Ted Ersek
(***********************************) (*** Use better format rules for
expressions with Head Times. ****)
Module[{wasprotected=Unprotect[Plus,Times,MakeBoxes]},(
MakeBoxes[c_Integer*b_Real^expon_,form_]:=
RowBox[{MakeBoxes[c,form],"(",MakeBoxes[b^expon,form],")"}]/;
(c=!=-1)&&(expon=!=1/2)&&(expon=!=-1/2);
MakeBoxes[c_Integer*b_Integer^expon_,form_]:=
RowBox[{MakeBoxes[c,form],"(",MakeBoxes[b^expon,form],")"}]/;
Not[TrueQ[Negative at expon]]&&(c=!=-1)&&(expon=!=1/2);
MakeBoxes[1.` *b_^expon_,form_]/;
MachineNumberQ[Re[b]]||MachineNumberQ[Re[expon]]||
MachineNumberQ[Im[b]]||MachineNumberQ[Im[expon]]:=
MakeBoxes[b^expon,form];
MakeBoxes[-1.` *b_^expon_,form_]/;
MachineNumberQ[Re[b]]||MachineNumberQ[Re[expon]]||
MachineNumberQ[Im[b]]||MachineNumberQ[Im[expon]]:=
RowBox[{"-",MakeBoxes[b^expon,form]}];
MakeBoxes[c_Real*b_Integer^expon_,form_]:=
RowBox[{MakeBoxes[c,form],"(",MakeBoxes[b^expon,form],")"}]/;
Not[TrueQ[Negative at expon]]&&(expon=!=1/2);
MakeBoxes[c_Complex*b_Integer^expon_,form_]:=
RowBox[{"(",MakeBoxes[c,form],")",MakeBoxes[b^expon,form]}]/;
(expon=!=1/2);
MakeBoxes[c_Real*b_Real^expon_,form_]:=
RowBox[{MakeBoxes[c,form],"(",MakeBoxes[b^expon,form],")"}]/;
(expon=!=1/2);
MakeBoxes[c_Complex*b_Real^expon_,form_]:=
RowBox[{"(",MakeBoxes[c,form],")",MakeBoxes[b^expon,form]}]/;
(expon=!=1/2);
(** Ensure a difference is displayed as a difference **)
MakeBoxes[(n_Integer|n_Rational|n_Real)a_.+ b_,form_]/;
(Head[b]=!=Plus)&&(n<0)&&(Head[b]=!=Complex)&&(Head[a]=!=Complex):=
RowBox[{MakeBoxes[b, form],"-", MakeBoxes @@ {-n*a, form}}];
MakeBoxes[(z_Complex)a_.+ b_,form_]/;
(Head[b]=!=Plus)&&(Im[z]<0)&&(Re[z]===0)&&(Head[b]=!=Complex):=
RowBox[{MakeBoxes[b, form],"-", MakeBoxes @@ {-z*a, form}}];
(** Consolidate the above formatting rules under MakeBoxes. **)
(** Also return protection to Plus and Times as appropriate. **)
FormatValues[MakeBoxes]=Join[
FormatValues[Times],
FormatValues[MakeBoxes],
FormatValues[Plus]
];
FormatValues[Plus]={};
FormatValues[Times]={};
Protect@@wasprotected; )
]
(** Some personal preferences **)
SetAttributes[MakeBoxes,{ReadProtected, Protected}];